Dumb Cane

Scientific Name: Dieffenbachia

Clade: Angiosperm, Vascular plant, seed producing.

Date Collected: March 29th, 2012

Location Collected: This plant was collected in my house, specifically in the garden.

Habitat: This plant is a houseplant, which normally grows indoors; bright filtered light and water 1-2 times per week is highly recommended. The Dieffenbachia plant is native to South America where it is commonly found growing in tropical jungles, especially in Brazil.

Special Notes: The Dieffenbachia was named by Heinrich Wilhelm Schott, the director of the Botanical gardens in Vienna, to honor his head gardener Joseph Dieffenbach (1796–1863). If this plant's leaf is chewed, there can be a burning sensation in the throat, due to raphides (needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals).In Brazil the plant is said to ward against "negative energies".

Resources:

• Britannica: Dumb Cane
• ucc.edu